Judge a book by its cover? Judge a wine by it’s label. I chose the Spicy Vines Dragon’s Kiss Syrah for its awesome label and chose their rosé of the same variety for the same reason. But also, because I thought it’d be an interesting “experiment” to see how they express the same grape in “rosé form”…

About the Wine: The Spicy Vines 2017 Rosé of Syrah is made from 100% Syrah grapes harvested from Windance Vineyards that sits at 2,800 feet elevation in the Sierra Foothills. This is the same vineyard as the Dragon Kiss Syrah—this rosé was made in the saignée method after 8 hours of cold soaking. The wine spent ten weeks cold fermenting in 100% stainless steel tanks, then aged fro 6 months in 100% French oak barrels (100% neutral).

13.5% ABV

Flavor Profile: Open the bottle of the Spicy Vines 2017 Rosé of Syrah and find soft scents of rich red strawberry, apple, along with hints of clove and cinnamon. This rosé presents a burnt amber hue on the pour, settling into the glass a perfect rose petal pink. Initial aromas are of flowers, flowers, flowers — and then slight aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla. Swirl, and that floral earthiness really comes alive: a field of flowers, growing amongst dewy grass under a warm summer morning sunrise as you laze about, indulging in maraschino cherries.

The palate of the Spicy Vines 2017 Rosé of Syrah is soft, smooth, with an essence of richness but for that cutting acidity and a delicate dryness that lingers on the finish. Dominant flavors are of strawberry, pomegranate, raspberries, nut skins, baking spices, and vanilla. The finish is a lingering “stink” of a bouquet of red roses complete with baby’s breath.

Food Pairing: I paired the Spicy Vines 2017 Rosé of Syrah with a seared salmon and a strawberry salad. Take a look at the picture below. See how well the colors compliment each other? So, too, did the flavors and textures.

More Info: I received the Spicy Vines 2017 Rosé of Syrah as a gift. (Cheers Jim!) Price: $28. For more information about Spicy Vines, their wines, and to purchase wines directly, please visit the Spicy Vines website.

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